(more on L'Arc can be found at laruku.com, an excellent English fansite)

The line up was changed in the beginning of the band's career, but the most notable switch was their drummer. Sakura was their drummer before he was busted on heroin/drug possesion and was replaced by yukihiro.

L'Arc~en~Ciel's popularity and fan following is insane in both Japan and overseas, even after more than a decade. All four members have sucessful side projects, and hyde has acted (erm... his skill at that is questionable >_>;;) in movies, alongside the infamous Gackt, and Chiaki (the girl in Kill Bill).

Side notes:
- there are tons of inter-band pairings in L'Arc, but most the most common jrock pairing involving L'Arc would be between Hyde and solo/ex-Malice Mizer vocalist Gackt.
- The band is nicknamed "Laruku" because that's how the Japanese pronounce "L'Arc"
- Serious annoyance of mine. It's spelt L'Arc~en~Ciel. Yes, the A is capitalized, yes there are tildes (~).